Atmospheric steam-condensing apparatus.



N0. 707,0'8l. Patented Aug. l9, I902.

F. R. BRANDT.

ATMOSPHERIC STEAM CONDENSING APPARATUS.

(Application filed. Dec. 23, 1901.) (No Model.) n a Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Aug. 19, I902. F. R. BRANDT. ATMOSPHERIC STEAM CUNDENSING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Dec. 23, 1901.)

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(No Model.)

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ATMOSPHERIC STEAM CONDENSING APPARATUS.

I (Application filed Dec. 28, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

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ATMOSPHERIC STEA CONDENSING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,081, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed December 23,1901. Serial No. 86,870. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERIC R. BRANDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Atmospheric Steam- Oondensing Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,.and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for condensing steam, and possesses the novel and advantageous features hereinafter specified and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide means for dispensing with the customary pipes for condensing steam.

The invention obviates many of the disadvantages accompanying the use of pipes for steam condensing purposes, chiefly among which may be mentioned the use of pipe-condensers, the use of large floor-space Where the sections of pipe-condensers are placed permanently, and the difficulty of removing the deposits from the coils.

To avoid the above objections is the object of the present invention, and to this end I construct the steam-condensing apparatus of a series of corrugated walls which are mounted in two vertical end pieces or split headers, each two of such walls providing a continuous surface and constituting a unit, any number of which may be associated by adding or assembling one or more unitsthat is to say, the area of space occupied by a condenser may be increased or decreased, according to the number of units or condenser-sections that are brought together.

Preceding a detail description of my invention reference'is made to the accompanying drawings, ,of which Figure l'is a side elevation of my improved condensing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation. Fig. 3 is a front end elevation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the lower front end of the condenser. Fig. 5 is a similar view of a portion of the lower rear end of the condenser, showing the outlet of the condensed water. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the condenser on the line a' a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a-portion of the front end of the condenser. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the lower end of the condenser, showing the baffie-plate therein. Fig. 9is a sectional view on the line y y of Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a sectional view ofa portion of the steam-header; Fig. 11, a -detailview of a portion of the front head of the condenser; Fig. 12, adetailview of a portion of I the rear head of the condenser.

A A designate two upright walls made of a suitable quality of galvanized sheet-iron having the proper tensile strength,corrugated throughout substantially as shown in the drawings and representing in appearance a series of pipes nested together, running horizontally and furnishing an uninterrupted interior Waterway for condensing water in its descent from the point of distribution to the bottom. It will be understood that the walls so constructed have a maximum amount of strength which can only be obtained through the corrugations. Each two of such walls are united to a rear upright head consisting of two parts F. E, which are preferably constructed of malleable iron, and the said two parts are united throughout their length by a series of screws e. The rearward ends of the walls A A are united to said head by being riveted or brazed to the edges e, so as to make the interior space between said walls practically air or water tight. The front ends of said walls are similarly united to a front upright head, consisting of two parts D D, which are united throughout their length by means of screws cl. The point of union between said walls and said head D D is along the edge 61, and the manner of uniting said walls with this front head is similar to the manner of uniting thernwith the rear head. The exhaust-steam is admitted into the front head D D through pipe-coupling D, which is controlled by a valve D. The top of the walls A A are united to a crown A throughout the length of said crown by means of a series of bolts (1. There is interposed between the upper horizontal edges a a of the walls A A a wooden gasket I), through which the bolts or screws a pass, as shown in Fig. 6, and thus the crown A becomes united to'the top of each unit or condenser-section. This crown A acts as a distributor of the water, which is discharged thereon from a trough G. Each two walls A A is braced on the interior by interlocking devices, consisting of lugs o c, which extend across the narrowest part of the interior space between said walls, as shown in Figs. 5 and 9. These lugs or projections c c are secured to a metallic plate 0, which in turn is brazed or otherwise secured on the interior of the walls, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 9. The said lugs project across the space and come in contact with the opposite sides of the walls and are pinned together by means of a pin 0, which projects from one of said lugs and enters the other. These locking devices, as before stated, are located at the points where the walls are closer together, and throughout the length of said walls they are located, preferably, from twenty-four to thirty inches apart. By means of these interlocking and bracing devices the walls are protected from bursting, which may be due to pressure within the walls, and by reason of said lugs comingin contact with opposite sides of said walls, as shown in the drawings, the said walls are prevented from collapsing, which may be caused by the apparatus being exposed to a vacuum. The corrugated walls when bolted together or united in the manner hereinbefore specified form a section of a steam-condenser which has a base B, that is united to a lower base 0 by means of aseries of screws j. Thelower surface of the base C is recessed to receive a series of rollers H, upon which each section is mounted. The rollers H are journaled in a suitable frame, consisting of cross and side pieces 0, as shown in Fig. 1. The rollers H are shown at certain distances apart. This may be varied as required. I designates a steam-header, into which exhaust-steam is admitted through pipe I. This steam-header is best shown in Figs. 1, 3, 10. It is connected to each of the condenser-sections by a screwunion J, which connects with the pipe-coupling D of each of the front heads D D. Each passage from the steam-header I to the condenser-heads D D is controlled by a valve D. The steam, it will therefore be seen, has an independent entrance into each condensersection, as indicated by the arrow, Fig. 7. J is a deflector-plate secured on the interior of each condenser-head D D. The steam entering said head comes against this deflectorplate J and is guided downwardly and enters the lower portion of the condenser and thence passes upwardly, filling the interior space between the walls A A.

As shown in Fig. 1, the condenser consists of four units or condenser-sections connected to the steam-header I. It will be understood that this condenser may be added to by an addition of one or more units and one or more sections of the steam-header I. It will also I be seen that the condenser, as shown in Fig.

3, may be reduced in capacity by excluding the steam from one or more of the sections. Each condenser-head, consisting of the parts D D, is fed by its respective valve D, which when closed places that section of the condenser out of operation without interfering with any of the other sections of the condenser. This ofiers the advantage hereinbefore noted of increasing or decreasing the supply of condensed water. It also affords ready facilities for disconnecting and removing a mineral-coated section of the condenser without disturbing the remaining sections. This is one of the advantages of the present invention of much importance, for the reason that in the event the outside walls A A become coated with minerals to such an extent as to render their efficiency less desirable these sections may be readily removed and a new section put in place thereof while the removed section is cleaned.

The condenser, as shown in Fig. 1, as before stated, is placed upon a lower base or frame 0. This base or frame should have some rearward fall or inclination. In other words,the rearward end of the frame 0 should be somewhat lower than the front end, in order that the water of condensation shall flow by gravity to the rearward end of the base, whereit will find an exit through outlet-pipes g, .which connect with the manifold K and are controlled by a series of valves g. Arranged throughout the base Bis a baffle-plate L, which keeps the condensed water and the steam separated. In other words, this baffleplate seals the water from the steam and makes it impossible for the steam to enter into the water-outlet. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and in ,section in Fig. 8, this plate is arranged on a series of angles in the base B, and at the lower point of each of said angles there is an outlet or opening g,through which the water of condensation flows to the lower portion of the base, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 4. Referring to Figs. 4 and 8, it will be seen that the forward end of this baffle-plate rests upon upwardly -extended ribs h, that project from the inner sides of the bottom plate 0. These ribs h as they extend rearwardly assume a higher plane in order to support the baiile-plate L on a higher plane at the rearward end of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. i and 5, the former of which represents the front end of the base portion of the apparatus and the latter of which-to wit, Fig. 5-represents the rearward end of the base portion of said apparatus, it will be observed that the waterline at the forward end of the base is above the baffle-plate L, while at the rearward end it is below the baffle-plate.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that each unit or condenser-section represents two continuous corrugated surfaces, which are mounted at their two vertical ends in split or two-part heads D D and E E, surmounted by the crown or water-distributing head A", and are mounted on a suitable base B, in which there is provided a chamber for the water of condensation, the Water in said chamber being suitably sealed from the steam within the condenser by the baffle-plate L. The water is discharged from the rear end of each section of the condenser by means ofpipe connections g, which connect with the manifold-pipe K, and each of said pipe connections g is controlled in its connection with the manifold-pipe K by an individual valve g. The condenser-sections, as before stated, are each connected with the steam-header I, and each condenser has its own independent set of rollers H, by means of which any series of said sections is supported on a common frame 0. This iron base or support G for the rollers H may be placed in a pan or any specially-designed water-tight flooring to form a reservoir for the waste water which flows over the exterior surfaces of the walls A A from the tank or trough G. As is well known, the condensation of the steam within each section takes place during the contact of water on the exterior of the sections. Owing to the continuous exterior surfaces of the walls A A the water as it leaves the crown or distributing-head A Will pass entirely down the sides of said walls throughout their depth, so

that a maximum efiect of the water is obtained. In other words, there being no open space between each of the corrugations, as there is in the case of a pipe-condenser, none of the water is permitted to pass away from or fail to come in contact with the surface of said walls. The sections so made up of two parallel corrugated walls Oder to the condensed water on the interior thereof aready and direct descent to the bottom or base, and the water of condensation in its passage or descent is kept in direct contact with the volume of steam that is being continually exhausted. The heat units from the exhauststeam are thereby absorbed and the condensed water is enabled to leave the condenser at almost boiling-point.

As all distilled water used in the manufacture of ice must be reboiled in order to make a crystal product after being drawn from the ordinary steam-condenser, it is very important that the water should enter the outlet of the condenser at the highest given temperature without being mixed with the inflowing steam to be condensed. These results are obtained by the use of the baflie-plate 'L, which, as hereinbefore described, is located in the base of the condenser, where the water is emitted undisturbed at almost boilingpoint. Each section is interchangeable, as hereinbefore stated. Thus any given section may be detached from the assemblage and replaced or entirely omitted.

The steam-header I consists of a series of sections, which are united by means of end flanges I, so that the number of such sections may be increased or decreased to correspond with the number of condenser-sections or units.

' Having described my invention, I claim 1. In an atmospheric steam-condensing apparatus, the combination of two or more series of condenser-sections, each section consisting of two corrugated walls, a two-part front and rear upright head to which the vertical edges of said walls are united, the front head providing an inlet for the steam, a crown to which the upper horizontal edges of said walls are united, said crown having its sides tapering in order to direct water to the exterior surfaces of said walls, interior means for bracing and sustaining said walls, a base to which the lower horizontal edges of said walls are connected, and means within said base for sealing the water of condensation from contact with the steam, substantially as specified.

2. An atmospheric steam-condensing apparatus, consisting of two or more series of condenser-sections, the condensing-surfaces of each of said sections being corrugated and said corrugation serving to maintain each section in an operative condition and being of proper strength, the vertical ends of said sections being united to split heads, a base to which the lower horizontal edges of each section are connected, a crown to which the upper horizontal edges of said walls of each section is connected, the said crown having tapering sides which direct the infiowing water around the surfaces of each section, means for bracing and connecting the walls of each section throughout, and a manifold steamheader to which each condenser-section has its own independent connection, substantially as specified.

3. In an atmospheric steam-condensing apparatus, the combination with a manifold steam-header having a series of valves therein, of one or more series of condenser-sec tions connected to said steam-header, each of said condenser-sections consisting of two corrugated walls which present two exterior and continuous corrugated surfaces, the said walls being connected to front and rear upright heads, the front head of each section connecting with the steam-header by suitable couplings, a crown or water-distributing head to which the upper horizontal edges of said walls are connected, a base to which the lower horizontal edges of said walls are connected, and roller-supports upon which each section is independently supported, substantially as specified.

4. In an atmospheric steam-condensin g apparatus, the combination of a series of vertical Walls corrugated throughout, and each two of such walls constituting a condenser-section, split upright front and rear heads to which the vertical edges of said walls are united, a steam-header connected to the front one of said upright split headers, ahorizontal crown or water-distributing header to which the up per horizontal edges of said walls are connected, a base to which the lower horizontal edges of said walls are connected, the said base providing a chamber for the water of condensation, and a baffle-plate having a series of angles, the said baffle-plate being located throughout the length of said base and forming a seal between the water of condensation and the steam, openings in saidbaftleplate through which the water of condensation passes below said baffle-plate, substantially as specified.

5. In an atmospheric steam-condensing apparatus, a series of condenser-sections, each of which consists of two walls corrugated throughout to present continuous corrugated surfaces, interior braces and supports projecting from the interior surfaces of said walls and serving to prevent any undue bursting or collapsing pressures of said walls, upright heads connecting the vertical ends of said walls, said heads each consisting of two parts which are united, a crown or water-distributing head connecting the upper horizontal edges of said walls and providing a distributing-surface from which the water is directed to the outer surfaces of said walls, a base having an interior water-chamber, a baffle-plate having a series of angles with openings therein through which the water of condensation is discharged below said baffle-plate, the said baffle-plate forming a seal between the steam and water of condensation, an outlet from said chamber, and roller-supports upon which each condenser-section is mounted, substantially as specified.

6. In an atmospheric steam-condensing apparatus, the combination with a steam-header consisting of a series of sections, each of which is provided with a valve, of a series of condenser-sections each of which consists of two walls corrugated throughout, a front and rear head to which the Vertical ends of said walls are united, the front head being connected to one of the sections of the steam-header and affording means for the passage of steam to the condenser, a crown to which the upper horizontal edges of said walls are connected, said crown having a tapering water-surface from which the water is directed to the outer side of the condensing-walls, a base to which the lower horizontal ends of said walls are connected, said base having a water-chamber therein, a baffle plate located within said chamber and extending throughout the length thereof, the rearward end of said baffle-plate terminating on a higher plane than the forward end thereof, means for supporting the baffle-plate within the chamber, and a valvecontrolled outlet at the rear end of said chamber, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIO R. BRANDT.

Witnesses:

R. J. McOARTY, JOHN W. KALBFUs. 

